Starting fluid injection device



Nov. 12, 1957 D. M. HARVEY 2,312,754

STARTING FLUID INJECTION DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1957 V D. M. HARVEY STARTING FLUID INJECTION DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

-' ATTORNEY FIG. :2

STARTING From mmcrroN DEVICE Draper M. Harvey, Hingham, Mass, assignor to Automotive & Marine Products Corporation, a corporation of Massachusetts The present invention relates to injection devices, and has particular reference to devices for injecting starting and treating fluid into diesel and other automotive engines. The principal objectis to provide an injector for-supplying starting and treatment fluid in finely comminuted .or vaporized form to the intake manifold of an automotive engine;

Another object is to provide an injector for starting fluid which is designed to use a perforatable cartridge or container containing starting fluid under high pressure.

A further object is to provide an injector of small size which is adapted to be operated at reasonable distances from the intake manifold.

An additional object is to provide a simple and citestive arrangement for thoroughly disseminating starting and treatment fluid in a stream of high pressure air.

Another object is to provide an injector which remixes starting and treatment fluid with carrier air to ensure a finely eornminuted vapor at the point of injection.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the accompanying detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of an illustrative starting fluid in ,jector embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical section therethrough, parts being broken away;

i Fig. 3 is a detail of the flow conduit therefor;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View of a spring pressed plunger attachment therefor;

Figs, 51 and 6 are front and side views of a modified mounting for the piercing, needle;

Fig, 7 is a sectional detail of a control for regulating the proportions of starting fluid and air;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of a preferred check valve construction for mounting inthe flowconduit;

Fig. 9 is a detail showing a, modified injection outlet cen u i Fig. 19 is a view showing one arrangement for providing starting and treatment fluid to a plurality of injection nozzles;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a modified construction for the i p mp p an Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of a modified construction for the pressure cylinder, including an adjustablepres sure fluid metering device.

It has been found desirable to provide a starting and treatment fluid injector for. diesel engines and for automotive. engines which are difficult to start because of adverse weather or operating conditions, such as are encountered for example in starting airplane, truck and tractor engines in sub-zero temperatures. To this end, I have devised an injector of small size which serves to supply an adequate volume of starting or treatment fluid under high pressure in finely oomminut'ed vaporized state 2,812,754 Patented Nov. 12, 1957 "ice to the intake manifold of the automotive engine, whereby starting is instantaneous even under extreme adverse tom'- perature conditions such as are encountered in Alaska.

To this end, I provide a high pressure cylinder of small size, and I utilize a supply of starting or treatment fluid under high pressure. For starting under adverse conditions, I prefer to utilize a sealed cartridge or container containing high pressure starting fluid; I penetrate the cartridge to permit starting fluid toexit and I supply carrier air. under pressure in which the starting fluid isvaporized and thoroughly disseminated, the mixture being conveyed to the intake manifold and remixed, or separated and remixed, at the point of injectioninto the manifold, whereby a starting mixture of high combustibilitly is supplied to the automotive engine. For injection of treatment fluid, it .is preferred to provide an adjustable metering device into which a predetermined. quantity of the treatment fluid may be induced, this construction also permitting injection of starting fluid if desired.

Referring to the drawings, the injector 10 includes a pressure cylinder 11, a pump cylinder 12, a flow conduit 13, and an injector nozzle housing 14 which is adapted to be connected to the intake manifold ofan automotive engine. The pressure cylinder 11, see Fig. 2, is of barrel type with strong metal walls 15, a knob or handle 16 being positioned at the rear end for manual holding; a threaded opening 17 is provided in the lower wall adjacent the forward end and threadedly receives a cap 18 packing 19 being positioned between the underside of the cap head 20 and an annular wall boss 21 encircling the opening 17.

The inner stem 22 of the cap is recessed as indicated at. 23 to accommodate a cylindrical sleeve 24 and has a central well 25 for receiving, a yielding seat 26 which is pressed upwardly by a compression spring 27. An opening 28 is positioned in the upper wall of the pressure cylinder in alignment with the opening 17, and an annular abutment member 29 projects downwardly around the opening 28, whereby a sealed cartridge or container 30 of starting fluid under high pressure may be mounted in the pressure cylinder through the opening 17 to be resiliently pressed upwardly with its neck 31 in the abutment member 29 and in line with the opening 28.. An

inlet tube 32 extends into the pressure cylinder through an opening 33, being preferably positioned forwardly of the cartridge mounting parts.

The pump cylinder 12 is mounted on the pressure cylinder by a split ring bracket 34, and is provided with manually operated mechanism for building up an air pressure in the pressure cylinder and for piercing the neck of the cartridge 30. The bracket 34 is locked to the front end of the pump cylinder in any suitable manner, as by welding, and has downwardly extending lugs 35 which are preferably welded to the sides ofthe pressure cylinder.

The pump cylinder has a transverse bore 36which is aligned with the pressure cylinder opening 28, for loosely receiving the lower end 37 of a piercing needle 38, which has a reduced intermediate portion. The upper end 39 of the needle has a drum section 40 adapted to slide in a fitting 41 threadedly mounted in the upper portion of. a recess 42 in the pump cylinder, a coil spring 43 being seated in the recess 42 and engaging the drum section for normally urging the needle outwardly. The fitting 41 is part of. a U-shaped lever mounting 44 having spaced sides 45, 46 and a transverse pivot pin 47, a. lever 48 being eccentrically mounted on the pin 47 and having a rounded cam end 49 adapted to press the needle downwardly against the spring 43 when the lever is turned from horizontal outward to horizontal inward position. Stop blocks 50, 51 are mounted on the pump cylinder to limit turning movement of the lever.

The pump cylinder.hastalongitudinal duct .52,,see.Fig.

2, which crosses the bore 36 and includes a reduced passage 53 communicating with the reduced end 54 of a transverse bore 55 which in turn is aligned with and formsa continuation of the tube 32, the bracket 34 being provided with a passage 56 whereby air under pres sure from the pump cylinder may be conveyed to the pressure cylinder for mixing with the escaping starting fluid from the cartridge as hereinafter explained. The passage 53 leads to an .enlarged chamber 57in an internally threaded end boss 58 at the front end of the pump cylinder, the enlarged chamber 57 constituting a mixing chamber.

' The pump cylinder has an air compression chamber 59 in its intermediate section 60 which may be detachably threaded to the pump cylinder forward part 61, air being admitted through an air inlet nipple 62 provided with a spring pressed ball check valve 63, to an inflow duct 64. The forward part 61 has an outflow duct 65 in a nipple 66 which is threadedly seated in a. stepped recess 67,

the outflow duct having a spring pressed ball check valve 68 and communicating through the central portion of the recess 67 with the longitudinal duct 52.

A piston 69 is slidably positioned in the chamber 59, and has suitable packing 70 seated in an annular groove 71 for engaging the chamber walls, a piston rod 72 extending outwardly through an end closure 73 with packing 74; a relief ring 75 is threadedly mounted on the end closuref73, the ring 75 and the closure 73 having air vent ducts 76 with air filters 77 for venting the compression chamber behind the piston. .A cap .78 is threadedly mounted on the outer end of the piston rod, and is recessed to receive a threaded plug 79 through which oil is admitted through a longitudinal bore 8-0 in the piston rod to a recess 81 in the piston and through ducts 82 to the packing groove 71. The oil is maintained under pressure by manually threading the plug 79 inwardly, or a spring pressed plunger 83 seated in the cap recess, see Fig. 4, may be used to continually exert pressure on the oil.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the boss 58 has a nipple 84 threaded therein and forming part of a valve housing 85,

the valve housing having a through passage 86 controlled by a spring pressed plug valve 87 of standard type. The flow conduit 13 is attached to the forward end of the valve housing 85, as by a lock ring 88, and the nozzle housing 14 is threaded to the outer end of the flow conduit.

The nozzle housing 14 includes a recess 89 communieating with a supply duct 90 for receiving starting fluid mixture from the flow conduit, the recess having a nipple 91 threaded therein with a flow passage 92; a nozzle tip 93 is threaded on the nipple tip and houses a whirl cylinder 94 which has double helix-thread channels, the forward end of the nozzle tip having a conical outflow nozzle 95 and being preferably externally threaded to seat in a correspondingly threaded manifold intake plate or the like.

The parts are positioned to supply starting fluid to an automotive engine by attaching the nozzle tip to the manifold intake plate or to a manifold inlet boss. The pump piston is then actuated to build up an air pressure, and the starting fluid cartridge is pierced; the valve 87 is now turned to open position and the starting fluid and the carrier air under pressure mix in the duct 53, which functions as a venturi mixer, to disperse the starting fluid thoroughly in the carrier air. The starting fluid and air separate either partially or wholly, as the spray mixture enters the central nipple tip passage 92 and the spiral grooves in the whirl 94 and remixes in the outflow nozzle 95 to issue under injecting pressure as a thoroughly disseminated starting fluid vapor mist into the engine manifold.

When a supply of air under pressure is available, the pressure air supply may be substituted for the pump cylinder, additional valve controls being provided as required, to control flow of pressure air into the venturi duct for obtaining the desired dispersion of starting fluid in the carrier air.

The piercing needle 38 as disclosed in Fig. 2 functions to pierce the high pressure fluid cartridge or container when the lever 48 is turned to force the needle downwardly; in this position the needle may be considered as being in neutral position, as the needle seals the neck of the cartridge until return movement of the lever 48 permits withdrawal of the needle under the influence of the spring 43, whereupon the reduced center portion of the needle functions as a bypass facilitating free flow of pressure fluid and pressure air through the longitudinal duct 52. It is desirable to provide a positive movement of the piercing needle for some automotive installations, and the lever 48 may be provided with an annular recess 96, see Figs. 5, 6, for slidably receiving a ball head 97 of a modified piercing needle 98, whereby the needle 98 is positively moved downwardly and then upwardly as the lever 48 is turned to the right, see Fig. 1, and then turned back. The needle 98 is also reduced in cross- 'section intermediate its ends, as indicated at 99, to permit free flow of pressure fluid into the duct 52.

The longitudinal duct 52 has an orifice of fixed dimensions, but may, if desired be provided with an adjustable orifice control to provide accurate metering of the fluid air volume. To this end, the end of the duct 52 adjacent the reduced passage 53 is tapered as indicated at 100, see Fig. 7, and a conical type plug 101 is threadedly mounted in an internally threaded shell 102 mounted in the duct 52 in spaced relation to the tapered duct end 100, the plug having a through passageway 103 for pressure fluid from the transverse bore 36. The proportion of air and fluid is accurately metered by shifting the plug 101 in its shell 102 to regulate the pressure air supply.

The flow conduit 13 may be provided with a flow control mechanism to function as a preloading device and to shut off flow of fluid and air below a fixed pressure factor, in order to assure constancy of flow under suitable working pressures. A preferred flow control mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 8, and includes a shell housing 104 having a bore 105 with a reduced inlet 106, a ball check valve 107 being held in the bore by fins 108 and being spring pressed towards the inlet 106 by a compression spring 109 of suitable strength.

The atomized fluid air spray may be injected into the intake manifold in transverse relation to the fuel mixture,

or may be injected into the fuel mixture in the direction of flow of the fuel mixture by providing a nozzle of the type shown in Fig. 9. In this modification the nozzle 109 includes a bored nipple 110 which is threaded into the manifold wall and which carries the flow conduit 13. A discharge terminal 111 is threaded into the nipple 110 and has a passage 112 communicating with the conduit 13 and two oppositely directed passages 113, 114 connected to the passage 112, passages 113, 114 each having whirl cylinders 115 with double helix channels and outflow nozzles 116, whereby the fluid air spray from each end is discharged as a hollow cone rotating vapor-mist spray directly into the manifold for effective distribution directly to the engine cylinders or to thoroughly commingle with the inflowing fuel-air mixture.

In automotive installations in which simultaneous injection of starting fluids are required, as for example in diesel engines which utilize a gasoline starting motor for turning over the diesel engine to obtain primary ignition through compression, it has been found desirable to connect the flow conduit 13 to two flow lines such as designated 117 and 118 in Fig. 10, through a U-shaped connection 119, the flow lines having terminal injection nozzles 120, 121. Such multiple connections provide for simultaneous supply of starting fluids, or treatment fluids if needed, to several automotive units.

' The piston 69 is disclosed in Fig. 2 as having an oiling groove 71 having an 0 ring packing closure, but may be constructed as disclosed in Fig. llto provide an allmetal piston with large volumetric capacity. The modified piston 122 is an all-metal piston with a multiple num-.

ethyl-ether, normal heptane, and a light-bodied mineral oil, this compound being introduced into the air stream of the diesel engine in a finely comminuted stage for passage into the combustion chamber during the aspiration period, where it is compressed to create a pre-flame reaction or actual auto-ignition, with the result that the injection of the basic diesel fuel does not depress temperature of the compressed air to a point Where inflammation and sustained ignition will not develop. Suitable blends of gasoline may be used with the novel injector to provide early ignition through auto-ignition in either an automotive or a gasoline-type diesel engine.

The introduction of compounds such as specified above provides primary lubrication of the engine, and when introduced on a sustained and controlled basis improves combustion efliciency and increased power output, with absence of heavy discharge of smoke. Tests have demonstrated that diesel engines have been started with the novel injector in from two to seven seconds at temperatures as low as 40 to -65 degrees F.

Tests have also demonstrated that the novel injector may be utilized for introducing special treatment fluids into automotive engines to control exhaust discharge and ineflicient combustion, with a marked improvement in combustion efliciency and complete absence of smoke from the exhaust stack.

The invention therefore contemplates the use of the injector as a treatment fluid injector, which may be employed independently of the cartridge piercing mechanism and which therefore includes an adjustable metering device into which a predetermined quantity of starting or treatment fluid may be induced. To this end, the container 11 is provided with a filler cap 125, note Fig. 1, which is threadedly seated therein and which may be permanently connected by a chain attachment to the con tainer, whereby the container may be filled with bulk starting or treatment fluid, the parts being designed to provide for a volume of air above the liquid level surficient to reduce the spread between the liquid-air discharge irrespective of the fluid level within the container as related to the pressure created by the pump or by inflow of air under pressure from an air pressure supply line.

To this end, the container 126, see Fig. 12, is provided with an adjustable metering device 127, which includes a tank 128 having a fluid conduit 129 which is connected to an inflow conduit 130 drawing from the lower end of the container, by a cross conduit 131. The tank has a primary air passage 132 into which air flows downwardly from the pump against a spring pressed ball check valve 133 and laterally through a passage 134 into the container to pressurize the container and provide an upward flow of fluid through conduit 130 into the tank. Two float valves 135, 136 are seated in the conduit 131 and the passage 134 to close when the desired level of fluid in the tank has been reached, the float valve stems 136, 137 being length adjustable to provide suflicient fluid in the tank for starting or for intermittent treatment of various size engines. A secondary spring pressed ball check valve 13% is positioned opposite the passage 134 to maintain air pressure in the tank as the liquid discharges.

The metering device operates to initially fill the tank 128 with a predetermined volume of fluid. The floats 135 and 136 being in lowered position, pressure air from the pump or any suitable source enters the air passage 132 and laterally through passage 134 into the container 126 to force fluid from the container 126 through the conduit and down through conduit 129 into the tank 128. The rise of fluid in tank 128 lifts valves 135, 136 and cuts off flow of pressure air to the container 126 and flow of fluid to the tank 128, pressure air continuing to feed into tank 128 through valve 133 to buildup a pressure therein at a predetermined differential less than the pressure in container 126. Any excess pressure in the tank 128 passes out through valve 138.

The valve 87 being opened for supplying starting mixture to the engine manifold, the fluid in tank 128 being under pressure flows upwardly through conduit 129 and into the duct 52 and to the injection nozzle, until the fluid level in tank 128 lowers to again admit a measured volume of starting fluid into the tank 128 under pressure. Preferably, valve 87 is closed for refilling the tank.

The above described injector thus provides starting and treatment fluid to the injection nozzles, through a flow conduit or conduits of any desired length without disturbing the flow characteristics or the vaporization of the fluid air mixture, the terminal nozzle or nozzles remixing the fluid and air and providea conical type spray. The injector is illustrated as of the portable type, with a manual holding handle, but may be permanently attached to an automotive engine by suitable brackets or the like if de sired. Although a manually controlled outflow valve 87 isdisclosed, an automatic valve, for example of solenoid type,-may be utilized instead, for operation to effect time controlled discharge of the fluid or to simultaneously discharge fluid when a starting motor is actuated. When the injector is to be used for starting a number of engines, it is contemplated that each engine manifold may have a special coupler nipple to facilitate quick coupling of the injector nipple thereto.

Although I have described a specific constructional embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that changes in the size, shape and dimensions of the parts and in their relative arrangement may be made to meet different requirements for starting fluid injection, and that the invention may be adapted for providing mixture sprays of other fluids under pressure, Without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid injector for an automotive engine, comprising a container with a measured volume of volatile starting fluid under high pressure, a pressure cylinder having a supply of carrier air under high pressure, a mixing chamber, means for piercing the container, means for conveying fluid from the container and carrier air from the cylinder to the mixing chamber, and conduit means adapted to be connected to an engine manifold for conveying mixture of air and fluid from the mixing chamber thereto, said conduit means including an injection nozzle and an air-fluid remixing device adjacent the injection nozzle.

2. A fluid injector for an automotive engine, comprising a container with a measured volume of volatile starting fluid under high pressure, a pressure cylinder having a supply of carrier air under high pressure, a mixing chamber, means for piercing the container, means for conveying fluid from the container and carrier air from the cylinder to the mixing chamber, and conduit means adapted to be connected to an engine manifold for conveying mixture of air and fluid from the mixing chamber thereto, said conduit means including mechanism for stopping mixture flow therethrough upon predetermined drop in the mixture pressure.

3. A fluid injector for an automotive engine, comprising a container with a measured volume of volatile starting fluid under high pressure, a pressure cylinder having a supply of carrier air under high pressure, a mixing chamber, means for piercing the container, means for conveying fluid from the container and carrier air from the cylinder to the mixing chamber, and conduit means adapted to be connected to an engine manifold for conveying mixture of air and fluid from the mixing chamber thereto, said conduit means including mechanism for stopping mixture flow therethrough upon predetermined drop in the mixture pressure, an injection nozzle and an air-fluid remixing device adjacent the injection nozzle.

4. A fluid injector for an automotive engine, comprising a pressure cylinder, a pump for supplying high pressure carrier air to said cylinder, a container containing volatile starting fluid under high pressure and removably mounted in said pressure cylinder, a mixing chamber having an inflow passage, a passage leading from the container to the inflow passage, a passage leading from the pressure cylinder to the inflow passage, means for piercing the container, whereby fluid from the container and carrier air from the cylinder flow to the mixing chamber, and an outflow conduit from the mixing chamber for airfluid mixture.

5. A fluid injector for an automotive engine, comprising a pressure cylinder, a pump for supplying high pressure carrier air to said cylinder, a container containing volatile starting fluid under high pressure and removably mounted in said pressure cylinder, a mixing chamber having an inflow passage, a passage leading from the container to the inflow passage, a passage leading from the pressure cylinder to the inflow passage, means for piercing the container, whereby fluid from the container and carrier air from the cylinder flow to the mixing chamber, and an outflow conduit from the mixing chamber for air-fluid mixture, said outflow conduit including an injection nozzle and an air-fluid remixing device adjacent the injection nozzle.

6. A fluid injector for an automotive engine, comprising a pressure cylinder, a pump for supplying high pressure carrier air to said cylinder, a container containing volatile starting fluid under high pressure and removably mounted in said pressure cylinder, a mixing chamber having an inflow passage, a passage leading from the container to the inflow passage, a passage leading from the pressure cylinder to the inflow passage, means for piercing the container, whereby fluid from the container and carrier air from the cylinder flow to the mixing chamber, and an outflow conduit from the mixing chamber for airfiuid mixture, said conduit means including mechanism for stopping mixture flow therethrough upon predetermined drop in the mixture pressure.

7. A fluid injector for an automotive engine, comprising a pressure cylinder, a pump for supplying high pressure carrier air to said cylinder, a container containing volatile starting fluid under high pressure and removably mounted in said pressure cylinder, a mixing chamber having an inflow passage, a passage leading from the container to the inflow passage, a passage leading from the pressure cylinder to the inflow passage, means for piercing the container, whereby fluid from the container and carrier air from the cylinder flow to the mixing chamben'and an outflow conduit from the mixing chamber for air-fluid mixture, said conduit means including mechanism for stopping mixture flow therethrough upon predetermined drop in the mixture pressure, an injection nozzle and an air-fluid remixing device adjacent the injection nozzle.

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